Agricultural device



4 N. A. DREIKOSEN AGRICULTURAL DEVICE Filed March 18, 1940 4Sheets-Sheet 1 I I l I ATTORN EYS 15, N. A. DREIKOSEN AGRICULTURALDEVICE Filed March 18, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORN EYS 1940- N. A.DREIKOSEN AGRICULTURAL DEVICE Filed March 18, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 (Yoa/g INVENTOR ATTORNEYS s s E N W w N. A. DREIKOSEN AGRICULTUQAL DEVICEFiled March 18, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 n uHIUHHIIHHHQHH H u um h N m my;

ATTORN KY8 Patented Nov. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES Y PATENT OFFICEApplication March 18,

2 Claims.

My invention relates to agricultural devices and has as one of theprincipal objects thereof the provision of an agricultural deviceequipped with means for automatically gathering vegetables, stones andthe like from the ground.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the abovedescribed character which is simple in construction, durable in use,efficient in operation and economical in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, appended claims and annexed drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designatelike parts throughout the several views:

Figure ,l is a top plan view of my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof partlyin section.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the parts inposition for removing or gathering vegetables, stones and the like fromthe ground.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line B--6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view of the rear section of the frameand illustrating the axle connected thereto.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 3 iIn practicing my invention I employ a frame 5 having front and rear endsectionsand with the under side of the rear end section having fixedthereto a transverse axle 6 of a substantially inverted U-shapedconfiguration and with the side portions thereof terminating inoutwardly disposed right angular sections on which are mounted tractionwheels I, The frame 5 is provided with side member 8 having their frontends converging towards each other and connected together.

Postjacent the front ends of the members 8 the frame is provided with atransverse member 9 bolted to said side members 8. Secured to the sidemembers 8 postjacent the member 9 are the lower ends of a pair ofupwardly extending standards Ill, the upper ends of which have connectedthereto bearings II in which are journaled the ends of a transverselydisposed shaft Pivotally mounted on the shaft l2 adjacent the standardsl0 and inwardly thereof are a pair of 1940, Serial No. 324,697

spaced conveyor supports l3 of a longitudinally disposed substantiallytriangular-shaped conveyor C. The oppositely disposed ends of thesupports l3 extend across and are connected to pairs of aligned ends ofa pair of spaced substantially triangular-shaped conveyor tracks orrails l4 forming part of said conveyor C.

The front ends of the members 8 and the member 9 are provided withbearings through which is journaled a longitudinally disposed driveshaft I5, the rear end of which is journaled in a gear. housing I6 andhas fixed thereto a bevel gear I! in mesh with a similar gear l8 fixedto a transversely disposed shaft l9 journaled through said housing l6and having end sections journaled in bearings 20, the latter beingconnected to the outer sides of the members 8 through the medium ofbearing brackets 2|. One end of the shaft I9 has fixed thereto asprocket 22 connected to a sprocket wheel 23 fixed to one end of theshaft l2 by means of a chain 24 trained over said sprocket 22 and wheel23 as clearly illustrated in the drawings.

One of the standards [0, adjacent the chain 24, has fixed thereto therear end of a forwardly extending arm 25; the front end of which isadjustably connected to a similar arm 26 having its front end providedwith a right angularly disposed section 21 engaging the forwardlydisposed run of the chain .24. Said arm 26 is adjusted relative to thearm 25 to preclude slack in said chain 24.

The front end of the shaft I5 is connected to the rear end of a shaft 28by means of a universal coupling 29, the front end of the shaft 28 beingconnected to a source of power, for instance a tractor (not shown), fordriving the shaft [5. Said tractor is connected to the front end sectionof the frame 5 throughthemedium of a draft bar 30 as clearly shown inFigure 3 of the drawings and which serves to operate the device ormachine over the ground.

The rear end of the frame 5 has mounted thereacross and fixed thereto atransversely extending guide shaft 3|, the latter being disposed inarcuate-shaped slots 32 formed in conveyor supports 33 with the latterconnected across the rear ends of the tracks H as clearly illustrated inFigure 2 of the drawings. It is to be understood that the radii ofthe-slots 32 are generated from the center of the shaft l2 therebyenabling the rear ends of the tracks H to be pivoted about the shaft l2with respect to the rear end of the frame 5 whereby said tracks may bedisposed in raised position with respect to the frame 5 as 11- lustratedin Figure 2 of the drawings and operated to lowered position withrespect to the frame 5 as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings.

Thesupports 32 have bolted thereto the front ends ofangle irons 34, therear ends of which are fixed to the tracks 4. The uppenfaces of theangle irons 34 are provided with aligned bearings 35 through which arejournaled the ends of a transversely disposed shaft 36 on which isfixed, adjacent the bearings 36, sprocket wheels 31 over which aretrained chains 88.

The shaft l2 has also fixed thereto sprocket wheels 39 receiving thechains 38. The apex end sections of the tracks l4 have fixedtheretohearing blocks 46 in which is journaledja shaft 4| having keyedthereto idler sprockets 42 meshing with the chains 38 and dividing thelatter into lower and front runs 43 and 44 with said runs being disposedbetween the sprocket wheels 31 and 39 and the other runs of said chainsbetween the sprocket wheels 31 and 39 constituting upper runs 45.

Prejacent the rear end of the frame 5, the side members 8 have fixed totheir side faces the lower ends of plates 46, the upper ends of thelatter being provided with bearings through which are journaled theouter ends of a cross shaft 41. The outer ends of the cross shaft 41have fixed thereto arms 48, the latter being connected to the upper endsof chains 49. The lower ends of the chains 49 are connected to atransversely disposed angle iron 56 fixed to the tracks I4 superjacentthe lower runs 43 of the chains 38. One of the arms 48 has fashionedtherewith an angularly disposed arm and which constitutes a bell cranklever. Said last mentioned arms are pivotally connected to the rear endof a rod 6|. The front end of the rod 6| is pivotaily connected to thelower end of an operating lever 52 pivotally connected adjacent itslower end to an arcuate-shaped rack 53 mounted on the front end of oneof the members 8. Obviously, by operating the lever 62 the rear end ofthe conveyor C may be raised or lowered through the medium of the shaft46, arms 48 and chains 49. The lever 52 is of the type equipped with aspring pressed dog (not shown) for engagement with the rack 63 wherebyto maintain the rear end of the conveyor C in adjusted position.

The tracks or rails l4 are of an L-shaped configuration comprisinghorizontal and vertically disposed sections 54 and 65 respectively andwith the vertically disposed sections constituting side flanges 56. Thechains 39 have attached thereto spaced pairs of shafts 51 and 58 havingrollers 59 mounted on their outer ends and tracking the sections 54 ofsaid tracks l4 and with the flanges 56 serving as guides to precludelateral displacement. The shafts 58 have pivotally mounted thereonlooped inner ends of a plurality of transversely spaced- U-shaped tinesconstituting pickers 66 for removing and gathering vegetables, forinstance potatoes or the like, from the soil as hereinafter described.

The shafts 51 have mounted thereon the inner looped ends of a pluralityof spaced leaf springs 6|, the latter being connected together bytransversely disposed angleirons 62. The outer .ends of the springs 6|are bifurcated and embrace the sides of the tines or pickers 66 and withtheir crotch walls engaging the pickers 66 to preclude appreciablerearward displacement of the pickers during operation of the latter whendisposed subiacent the lower runs 43 of the chains 38. However, shouldany of the pickers 66, during the forward movement of the machine andoperation of the chains 38, encounter an obstruction or the like therespective springs coact therewith to permit rearward pivoting of thepickers.

Prejacent the standards l6, the undersides of the members 6 have securedthereto the upper ends of hangers 63, the lower ends of which areprovided with bearings through which is journaled a shaft 64. Fixed tothe shaft 64 and operable therewith are upper ends of spacedarcuateshaped tines 65, the latter constituting a harrow 66 forconditioning the soil in advance of the pickers 66. 1

One end of the shaft 64 has fixed thereto an arm 61, the latter beingpivotally connected to the rear end of a rod 88. The front end of therod68 is connected to the lower end of an operating lever 69, the latterbeing pivotally connected to an arcuate-shaped rack 16. The operatinglever 69 is provided with a spring pressed dog (not shown) forcooperation with the teeth of the'rack 16 whereby to maintain the lowerend of the lever 69 in a desired adjusted position. Obviously,adjustment of the lever 69 with respect to the rack 16 serves to actuatethe harrow 66 to raised or lowered position as depicted in Figures 2 and3 of the drawings respectively.

Embraced by the conveyor C and transversely secured to the frame 5prejacent its rear end is a discharge conveyor D, one end of whichextends an appreciable distance beyond one side of the frame 5 asillustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. The ends of the conveyor D havejournaled therethrough shafts 1| and 12. Fixed to the shafts 1| and 12are spaced sprockets over which are trained chains 18 equipped withtransversely disposed flights 14, the upper run of which receivesthereon vegetables and the like gathered by the pickers 66 ashereinafter more fully described. One end of the shaft 12 is providedwith a sprocket 16 connected to a similar sprocket 16 mounted on a stubshaft 11 carried on one side of the conveyor postjacent one of thebrackets 2 I.

The stub shaft 11 is connected to a shaft 18 by means of a shaft 19, thelatter being connected to the shafts 11 and 18 by means of universalcouplings 86. The shaft 18 is mounted in bearings 8| carried by theadjacent brackets II and said shaft 18 has fixed thereto a bevel gear82, the latter meshing with a similar gear 63 fixed to the shaft I9.Obviously, operation of the shaft I 9 serves to effect operation of theconveyor D through the medium of the shafts 11, 18 and 16, it beingunderstood that the sprockets 16 and 16 are connected together by achain 84 as clearly illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings.

The shaft I2 is provided with a pair of bearlugs 85 fixed to theupperend of an inclined chute 86, the lower end of said chute beingconnected to one side of the conveyor D and disposed over the upper runof the flights 14 thereof whereby vegetables gathered by the pickers 66and conveyed upwardly towards the upper end of th chute 88 aredischarged therein and as a consequence deposited onto the conveyor Dwhence they are conveyed to a desired location laterally of the machine.

During operation of the machine the harrow 66 is disposed in loweredposition as illustrated in Figure 3 to condition the ground in advanceof the pickers 66 and the rear end of the conveyor C is operated tolowered position to effect operation of said pickers for conveying thevege- 1y for discharge into the chute .6.

same for use under various conditions of service' Moreover, it is notindispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointlysince they may be mployed advantageously in various combinations andsub-combinations.

It is obvious that the invention is not confined to the herein describeduse therefor as it may be utilized for any purpose to which it isadaptable. It is therefore to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the specific construction as illustrated and described, asthe same is only illustrative of the principles of operation, which arecapable of extended application in various forms, and that the inventioncomprehands all construction within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the character described, a wheel supported frame,upwardly extending standards connected to said frame adjacent the frontend of the latter, tracks of substantially triangular configuration inelevation having upper ends pivotally connected to the upper ends ofsaid supports, a cross bar carried by the rear end of said frame, platesmounted on said tracks adiacent the rear ends thereof and provided witharcuate-shaped slots receiving said cross bar to permit raising andlowering of the rear ends of said tracks with respect to said frame,means carried by saidframe and connected to the rear end of said tracksto effect raising and lowering of the latter, endlessconveyor chainsoperable over said tracks, pickers connected to said chains and operableby the latter .to remove vegetables and the like from the soil subjacentsaid frame, a transverse conveyor carried by said frame, an upwardlyextending chute connected to said transverse 'conveyor for receivingvegetables and the like discharged from said pickers, means carried bysaid frame for operating said transverse conveyor, and means mounted onsaid frame and connected to said chains for operating said pickers.

2. In a machine of the character described, a wheel supported frame,upwardly extending standards connected to said frame adjacent the frontend of the latter, tracks of substantially triangular configuration inelevation having upper ends pivotally connected to the upper ends ofsaid supports, a cross bar carried by the rear end of said frame, platesmounted on said tracks adjacent the rear ends thereof and provided witharcuate-shaped slots receiving said cross bar to,

permit raising and lowering of the rear ends of said tracks with respectto said frame, means carried by said frame and connected to the rear endof said tracks to effect raising and lowering of the latter, endlessconveyor chains operable like discharged from said pickers, meanscarried by said frame for operating said transverse conveyor, meansmounted on said frame and con nected to said chains for operating saidpickers, and a harrow adjustably carried by said frame for conditioningthe soil in advance of said pickersj NORBERT A. DREIKOSEN.

